Britains's budget deficit is lower than feared according to May figures, but chancellor George Osborne is likely to press ahead with heavy austerity measures in Tuesday's budget. Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Source: ReutersUS Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) at the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the BP oil spill

A Republican US representative apologised to BP CEO Tony Hayward, saying BP was victim of a White House shakedown by having to set up a $28 billion Gulf oil spill fund, a comment that angered both Democrats and Republicans.